Nashville Arrest Records Search
Nashville arrest records are held by the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. As Tennessee's state capital and largest city, Nashville handles a high volume of arrests each year across its consolidated metro area. The Davidson County jail roster is updated every hour, and residents can search for arrest records through several online portals. Most arrest records in Nashville are open to the public under Tennessee law, though some records tied to active cases may be held back until the case is closed.
Nashville Quick Facts
Where Nashville Arrest Records Are Filed
All arrests in Nashville go through the Davidson County system. The Metro Nashville Police Department makes the majority of arrests within the city. Once a person is booked, the Davidson County Sheriff's Office takes over custody at the Downtown Detention Center. Both agencies create arrest records that the public can access.
The MNPD handles patrol, investigations, and initial arrests across Nashville. They log each arrest with details like the person's name, charges, date, and location. These records are stored at MNPD headquarters on Murfreesboro Pike. You can reach the records division at (615) 862-8600 for questions about Nashville arrest records.
| Agency | Metro Nashville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 600 Murfreesboro Pike Nashville, TN 37210 |
| Phone | (615) 862-8600 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | nashville.gov |
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and handles inmate records after booking. Their Downtown Detention Center is at 1 Jerry Newson Way, Nashville, TN 37201. The sheriff's records department can be reached at 615-862-8123 for arrest record and mugshot requests in Nashville.
Note: Criminal warrant information in Nashville is not given out over the phone. You must go in person to the Criminal Warrants Office, which is open around the clock every day of the week.
How to Search Nashville Arrest Records
You can look up Nashville arrest records online or in person. The Davidson County Sheriff's Office has an active inmate search tool at dcso.nashville.gov that shows recent bookings. This tool lets you search by name or booking number. Results show the person's charges, bond amount, and mugshot. The jail roster updates every hour, so new arrests show up fast.
The Metro Nashville Police Department also publishes arrest data through the city's open data portal at data.nashville.gov. This portal lets you search incident data and filter by type, date, and area. It is free to use and does not need an account. The data covers years of arrest and incident records for Nashville.
The screenshot below shows the Metro Nashville Police Department website where you can find links to records and arrest data.
The MNPD site is a good first stop when you need to find arrest records or file a public records request in Nashville.
For a formal copy of an arrest record in Nashville, you can submit a public records request. The hubNashville portal at hub.nashville.gov lets you file requests online. You must include a copy of your photo ID with the request. Tennessee law under T.C.A. 10-7-503 limits access to Tennessee residents, so you need proof of residency.
Nashville's public records request portal is shown below. You can use this portal to submit formal requests for police reports, arrest records, and other public records.
Requests through the portal are tracked online so you can check the status of your Nashville arrest record request at any time.
Nashville Arrest Records Details
An arrest record in Nashville includes several key pieces of data. The record lists the person's full legal name, date of birth, and physical description. It also has a mugshot taken at the time of booking. The charges filed are listed along with the arresting agency, arrest date, time, and location. Bond or bail information is part of the record too. Court dates and case numbers round out the file.
Nashville arrest records also track which officer made the arrest and what unit they work for. If the arrest came from a warrant, the warrant number is in the file. For drug cases or DUI arrests, test results may be attached. Each arrest gets a unique booking number that you can use to look it up later. The Davidson County jail system keeps these records for years, and felony arrest records are kept on a permanent basis in Nashville.
Note: The Davidson County Sheriff's Office does not post mugshots in the online inmate search results. To get a mugshot, you need to file a specific public records request or call the records office at 615-862-8123.
Tennessee Law and Nashville Arrest Records
The Tennessee Public Records Act at T.C.A. 10-7-503 is the main law that controls access to arrest records in Nashville. Under this law, all records held by state and local agencies are public unless a specific exemption applies. Arrest records are generally open. But records tied to active investigations can be withheld until the case closes.
Several types of data get removed from Nashville arrest records before release. Under the law, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account details, and credit card numbers are always redacted. Juvenile records are not public. Medical and mental health records tied to an arrest also stay sealed in Nashville.
Tennessee residents can request copies of arrest records for a standard fee of $0.15 per page for black and white copies. If a request takes staff more than one hour to fill, the agency can charge the hourly wage of the person doing the work beyond that first hour. These fee rules apply across all Nashville agencies that hold arrest records.
Tennessee law at T.C.A. 40-32-101 also allows some arrest records to be expunged. If charges were dismissed or the person was found not guilty, they can petition to have the arrest record sealed. The Clean Slate Act of 2022 expanded who qualifies for this in Tennessee. Once a Nashville arrest record is expunged, it no longer shows up in public searches.
Nashville Criminal Court System
After an arrest in Nashville, the case moves to the Davidson County courts. Misdemeanor cases go to General Sessions Court. Felony cases go to Criminal Court. Both courts create case records that tie back to the original arrest record. You can look up court records through the Tennessee Courts website or visit the Metropolitan Clerk's Office in person.
The Criminal Court Clerk of Davidson County keeps all criminal court records. You can view public records at the office during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Certified copies cost $5.00 per certification and seal under T.C.A. 8-21-401. This office is the best place to get official copies of Nashville arrest and court case records.
Statewide Tools for Nashville Arrest Records
Beyond local sources, several statewide tools cover Nashville arrest records. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation runs TORIS, which is an online criminal history search. It costs $29 per name search and pulls from the statewide arrest database. TORIS results may include arrests, charges, and case outcomes reported to TBI by Nashville agencies.
The TDOC Felony Offender Information Lookup at FOIL covers anyone who was sentenced to state prison after a Nashville arrest. This free tool shows current location, sentence details, and release dates. For tracking custody changes, VINELink sends free alerts when an inmate's status changes at any Tennessee facility including those in Davidson County.
Note: TORIS only includes arrests that were reported to TBI based on fingerprint submissions. Not every Nashville arrest may appear in the statewide database.
Nashville Warrant Information
If you need to check on a warrant in Nashville, the process differs from a standard arrest record search. The Nashville Police Department's Criminal Warrants Office handles all warrant inquiries. They will not release warrant information by phone or email. You must go in person to check.
The Warrants Office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Fugitive Unit can be reached at 615-862-7348 for tips on wanted persons. The MNPD also keeps a most wanted list on their website with names, mugshots, and charges for fugitives with active warrants in Nashville. If you have a tip, you can report it to the Fugitive Unit directly.
Davidson County Arrest Records
Nashville sits within Davidson County, and all arrest records flow through the Davidson County court and jail system. The county sheriff runs the jail, and the county courts handle criminal cases after arrest. For full details on fees, search tools, and county-level resources, visit the Davidson County arrest records page.
Nearby Tennessee Cities
Residents of nearby cities can look up arrest records through their own local agencies. Pick a city below to find arrest record resources for that area.